UPDATE: Suspect's employer issues statement on child abuse case on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

UPDATE: Suspect's employer issues statement on child abuse case

Related Articles

Suspect charged with online exploitation of a child

Suspect charged with online solicitation of minor

Crossville man charged with soliciting Rutherford girl

By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 3:02 pm

Detectives were searching for victims possibly sexually abused by a pediatric nurse who kept hundreds of child pornography images and videos on his laptop computer in Murfreesboro, police reported.

After learning of the investigation, suspect pediatric nurse Elliot Lash jumped to his death last Thursday from a building at St. Thomas Medical Center in Nashville, Detective Tommy Roberts reported.

Roberts called Lash and asked him to come to the police department for an interview but Lash didn’t show up. Roberts tried to serve the warrants on Lash at his home and at Dr. Tommy Mangrum’s pediatric office in Nashville where he worked but learned Lash didn’t show up for work.

Attorney Brent Horst, who represented Lash, talked with Roberts and stated he would advise Lash to turn himself in to Roberts.

Roberts received a call from a Metro Nashville detective Thursday stating Lash jumped off the building to his death.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said an examination of the three computers showed “hundreds of images and videos on his computers.”

Roberts was trying to determine if Lash recorded sexual acts with minors or if there were other people involved in trading pornographic images of children.

Although he lived in Murfreesboro, Lash worked primarily in Nashville.

Executive Director Bill Grayson of St. Thomas Medical Group, issued a statement about Lash.

"We are saddened to acknowledge the tragic death of one of our employees on Dec. 3, 2009," the statement read. "Elliot Lash was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and had dedicated his life to nursing. Mr. Lash became an employee of STMG on November 23, 2009, was still in training, and in the short time we knew him was a very personable co-worker.

"This tragic incident has been a shock for our staff and our patients, and we wish Mr. Lash's family and friends solemn condolences at this difficult time."

Grayson said Lash was in training.

"We’re fairly confident there was no chance for any impropriety here," Grayson said.

People who believe their children may have had sexual contact with Lash may call Roberts at 893-2717.

Tagged under Elliot Lash, sexual exploitation of a minor

Member Opinions:

By: Farmall on 12/9/09
Nice of him to do the honorable thing once he was caught.

By: mhm2a on 12/9/09
Saved some tax dollars too....

By: HuskyLover on 12/10/09
I feel very sorry for this guy's wife. I can't imagine the pain, horror and embarrassment she must be dealing with in knowing the kind of man she was married to.

That said, I'm glad my children are no longer having to share the same world with this monster. I hope he suffered and took a while to die after hitting the pavement.